I’m Really Playing Basketball

The Cavaliers' goal this offseason is to get an offensive interior player to liberate Chen Xiao and a point guard to liberate James.

From this perspective, the Cavaliers' operations this offseason can be considered successful.

Although the two draft picks Al Jefferson and Spanoulis are not yet sure whether they can establish themselves in the NBA, the two new players acquired by the Cavaliers, Raheem and Pence, are both players who meet the requirements of the Cavaliers. .

Rahim can play the offensive power forward position when the Cavaliers need it. With his current ability, he is definitely more than enough.

After the Cavaliers and Trail Blazers completed the deal, Chen Xiao tested the 28-year-old power forward. His ability was A- and his ability was very strong.

Although we don't know his specific attributes and abilities, everyone knows that Rahim's defense is average and his ability depends entirely on offense. Therefore, Rahim's offense can definitely be expected.

Although the Trail Blazers have Zach Randolph, they don't need Raheem.

But the Cavaliers definitely need this star power forward who is still at his peak.

The key is that he is quite suitable for Chen Xiao and James.

Last season, his mid-range shooting percentage was 43%, and his long-range two-point shooting percentage was 42%. This lowered his shooting percentage when he was on the bench with the Trail Blazers. When he was with the Hawks, his mid-range shooting percentage was 42%. 45%, and 43% of long-range two-pointers.

Last season, Rahim's overall shooting percentage was 47.5%, even if it lowered the efficiency with the Trail Blazers.

For the Cavaliers, Raheem is a weakened version of Nowitzki with three-pointers, height, shooting and defense.

Well, no kidding, Raheem is Dirk Nowitzki who is a little bit worse at everything.

It can be said that if Darius Miles can be exchanged for Raheem and a first-rounder, it is definitely not only the Cavaliers who gave the Trail Blazers an internal price, but the Trail Blazers also gave the Cavaliers an internal price.

Yes, the Trail Blazers don't need Rahim, but the Cavaliers do.

The Trail Blazers could afford not to trade that lottery-protected first-round pick with the Cavaliers.

It is possible to end up with a second-round pick + Raheem.

However, this is a bit hurtful.

After all, not every NBA general manager is named Danny Ainge or Pat Riley.

And what about Penny Hardaway?

The 33-year-old Pence is of course no longer as brave as he was at his peak.

Today's Penny basically has no athletic ability.

Physical fitness is not very good either.

It can be said that Pence's current game on the court relies entirely on his skills and experience.

But even so, he was still very qualified as a substitute for Marbury in the Suns and Knicks last season.

An average of 9+2.5 per game, this data is still possible.

In the Cavaliers, Pence does not need to play that long, and his consumption can be less. Maybe playing for more than ten minutes in a game can slightly liberate James and put James in the small forward position.

Or, simply play at the critical moment.

Of course, the Cavaliers' trade with the Knicks was certainly not for pennies. Although he is James' idol, the Cavaliers were not so generous as to trade for Crawford in order to get James' idol.

The Cavaliers traded with the Knicks simply because they were greedy for the Knicks' two first-round picks.

Although the Knicks are confident about their strength next season, the Cavaliers feel that the Knicks will remain the same.

Both first-round picks are likely to be lottery picks.

Therefore, the Cavaliers and Knicks trade is for the future.

However, while gaining the future, we also gained a certain present.

After the Cavaliers acquired Penny Hardaway and Raheem, it can be said that the team's construction for the new season is basically complete.

The current Cavaliers lineup.

Center position: Chandler, Diop.

Power forward position: Raheem, Al Jefferson, Diaw

Small forward position: Korver, Barnes

Shooting guard: Chen Xiao

Point guard: James, Hardaway, Mohamed, Spanoulis

The Cavaliers' lineup now only has 12 players, which seems a little less, but these 12 players of the Cavaliers have many versatile players.

For example, power forward Al Jefferson can play center, Diaw can play small forward, and even his point guard can play if you don't care about his defense.

Another example is Korver and Barnes at the small forward position. They can also play at the shooting position.

For example, Chen Xiao is the shooting guard. Chen Xiao can play from 1 to 4. He is now the most swinging person in the Cavaliers.

As for the four point guards, except for Mo Mo, James can play the 1st and 3rd positions, Hardaway can play the 1st and 2nd positions, and Spanoulis can also play the 1st and 2nd positions. No. bit.

When a team has so many players who can play two or more positions, the integrity of the team's lineup is definitely strong.

But to be honest, Cavaliers general manager Paxson and head coach Carlisle have no idea how strong the team is.

They are not even sure whether the Cavaliers have improved in terms of overall strength compared to last season.

But no matter what, facing the obstacles of O'Neal and the Suns, the Cavaliers did not let the team disband. With one operation, they got the present and seemed to get the future.

After the Cavaliers acquired Raheem and Pence, it is no longer possible to lure big fish in this free market.

However, the Cavaliers still have a full mid-level contract available.

The Cavaliers can still do something in the free market.

Of course, because of the lessons learned by Kevin Ollie and others, the Cavaliers will not just give out middle-class contracts.

However, what makes the Cavaliers a little embarrassing is that the mid-level contract is not very competitive in this year's free market.

This year's free market not only has big fish like Nash, Kobe, Gasol, and Kirilenko, but in addition to these big fish, there are also some very capable players.

For example, Quentin Richardson of the Clippers.

When the Cavaliers came to offer Quentin Richardson a full middle class, Quentin Richardson was very touched and refused.

Quentin Richardson is staying well in Los Angeles. Even if the Clippers don't want him, he has no plans to go to the countryside, especially a place like Cleveland. This is not a matter of money.

After rejecting the contracts of the Cavaliers and Raptors, Quentin Richardson accepted the Suns' 6-year 46 million contract.

The Suns seem to be on a collision course with the Cavaliers.

This is not the case. Although there are many high-quality players in the free market this year, there are actually not that many.

Especially the less expensive high-quality players, of course everyone wants to grab them.

The Cavaliers are eyeing Quentin Richardson, as are the Raptors and Suns.

After failing to pursue Quentin Richardson, the Cavaliers focused on the Pistons' backup center Okur, a player brought out by Cavaliers head coach Carlisle.

Okur is willing to come to the Cavaliers, and he is also willing to continue to be efficient under Carlisle's men.

Okur is also satisfied with the Cavaliers' 6-year 30 million contract.

but……

Just when Okur was about to fly from Detroit to the Cavaliers locker room for a physical examination, the Jazz offered Okur a 6-year, 50 million contract.

Good guy, provide a 6-year 50 million contract for the players who averaged 3+2 per game in the playoffs last season!

The Jazz team is really not an ordinary hero!

In this regard, Okur was walking on the road in Cleveland, then turned around and went to the Jazz for a physical examination.

Of course, Okur did not forget to apologize to his mentor Carlisle when he signed with the Jazz: "I'm sorry Rick, the Jazz gave too much..."

It is understandable, 50 million in 6 years, with this contract, no matter what, he can retire and enjoy financial freedom. Who can bear this?

After the Cavaliers hit the wall one after another in pursuit of these hot and powerful players, finally, the Cavaliers lowered their sights slightly and looked at the Nets' free agent Fisher.

Fisher is one of the most well-known dribbling defenders in the league. If the Cavaliers can't find an excellent point guard now, an excellent dribbling defender is also possible.

Fisher is definitely a very good option for the Cavaliers.

However, facing the invitation of the Cavaliers, Fisher was moved. 30 million in 6 years is really good.

But in the end, when Fisher received a four-year offer of 22.5 million from the Suns, Fisher ultimately rejected the Cavaliers' contract.

As the free market passes day by day, the Cavaliers' offers are constantly rejected. Some are because the money is too little, and some are because the location is not good. In short, this time I have completely experienced the Cavaliers' free market. After signing the contract, Chen Xiao finally understood why Paxson said that it was too difficult for the Cavaliers to make a difference in the free market.

To be honest, there is really no shortage of buyers for excellent free agents. Why should they come to Cleveland at the same price?

Therefore, if the Cavaliers want to get free agents, they can only pay a premium to poach them.

For example, Pistons backup guard Mike James.

The Cavaliers provided him with the same mini-middle class as the Bucks, but Mike James wanted a full mid-level contract worth 30 million over six years.

Mike James is simply not worth a contract like this right now.

But the market price just can't get him.

Finally, Mike James announced that he had joined the Bucks for 12 million in four years.

Well, Milwaukee is even more attractive than Cleveland.

Paxson, the general manager of the Cavaliers, now doesn't want to be ripped off, so he sticks to the bottom line. The result of sticking to the bottom line is that Cleveland is indeed unattractive.

Originally, Paxson thought that the Cavaliers were better than the Bucks. If Mike James wanted to pursue him, he should come to the Cavaliers at a similar price. In the end, it turned out that he still thought too much.

After failing to pursue Mike James, Rafe Alston, who was pursued by Paxson, ultimately rejected the same contract from the Cavaliers and eventually joined the Toronto Raptors for 25 million in six years.

Good guy, Paxson has always felt that it’s okay to forget that Cleveland’s attractiveness among teams in the United States is at the bottom. It turns out that Cleveland’s attractiveness among NBA players may not be as attractive as Toronto!

This is a bit shocking.

After going around in a circle from top to bottom, this middle-class contract was not given out. This really made Paxson despair.

The Cavaliers gained nothing in free agency.

That's not the case with the Cavaliers' competitors in free agency.

After sending away O'Neal in exchange for Marion and Joe Johnson, the Nets announced a contract extension with Martin and also announced that Carter was retained.

Although O'Neal, Payton, Malone, Mourning and Fisher lost blood.

But with Martin, Marion, Richard Jefferson, Carter and Joe Johnson, the Nets are still very strong. At least, they have stabilized the situation from the black eight.

As for the Magic, although they lost important players like Mike Miller, they have also been supplemented by powerful players like Turkoglu.

The Pacers finally got Stephen Jackson, who they trained in the Atlanta Hawks, on a temporary basis this summer.

The Heat signed Mourning and Payton, two former Nets players, in the free market.

After the Raptors successfully renewed Nash's contract with the maximum salary, they also signed powerful players like Alston in the free market.

The Bucks signed Mike James.

It can be said that among the top nine teams in the Eastern Conference last season, the Cavaliers, 76ers and Pistons were the quietest in the free market.

The 76ers really can't sign anyone, their space is full, and their salaries are about to explode. The Pistons are now in a very chaotic situation, and they don't know where the team is headed.

By the way, in this summer, the most active teams are not the teams in the East, but the teams in the West.

Due to well-known reasons, the Timberwolves are unable to sign any big names in the free market. Garnett's contract is too big.

As for the Lakers, the Lakers' important job this summer is to renew Kobe Bryant's contract and at the same time renew the contract of the All-Star starter Bago, whose contract has expired with the team, to a three-year, 24 million contract.

As for the Kings, if the team is not broken up, how can they have the energy to sign people?

The team that really started the entire West's signing frenzy was the Suns, which had never had a presence in the past.

After the Suns failed to sign Crawford and Miles, they successively signed Quentin Richardson and Fisher. At the same time, they signed a five-year, 50 million contract with the entire NBA, which they almost dare not ask for. Player Rasheed Wallace.

For a time, O'Neal and Rasheed Wallace teamed up, making the United States exclaim that the "NBA Avengers" was born!

In short, in this turbulent free market, in the East, the Cavaliers, 76ers and Pistons seem to be somewhat different from other strong teams in the East.

Of course, what's better for the Cavaliers is that the 76ers' leading players, whether they are Iverson or Mutombo, can no longer improve.

As for the two leading players of the Cavaliers, Xiao Zhan has been practicing crazy hard this summer, and his strength is almost visible to the naked eye.

And Chen Xiao, Chen Xiao still has opportunities for continuous improvement!

While Paxson was still trying to get that mid-level contract to the Cavaliers, Chen Xiao had already flown out of the United States.

Because, the 2004 Olympic Games are coming!